A man who stabbed an 11-year-old girl in a random attack in Leicester Square will no longer face trial for attempted murder.

The Australian child was on holiday with her mother in London when Ioan Pintaru allegedly put her in a headlock and stabbed her eight times as she left a Lego shop.

A member of the public disarmed the Romanian national and pinned him to the ground until police arrived.

The girl suffered face, neck, shoulder and wrist injuries during the attack on 12 August 2024.

Pintaru, 33, of no fixed address, previously admitted wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife.

However, he denied attempted murder and his trial was due to start at the Old Bailey on Monday.

Judge Richard Marks KC said today that prosecutors had indicated the attempted

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